All World
Gayatri Pariwar

Night is darkest in its last phase before the dawn. The flame of a lamp grows brightest before it is naturally extinguished. Similar is the case of aggravated evils and negativities of the Kaliyuga. As presented in the previous article (Anti-Climax of Kali-Yuga — Scriptural Indications & Present Scenario, Akhand Jyoti vol. 15, issue 2, page 15), the ancient texts also indicate the same — Kaliyuga is going to end soon. How soon? Let us look at some ancient and modern evidential predictions and astronomical calculations to get an answer.

While considering the estimated dates of beginning and end of Kaliyuga presented below (in the scale of modern/Gregorian calendar),
we should keep in mind that the deviations up to a few hundred years in estimates by different approaches are insignificant, as the astronomical calculations in the ancient and medieval times were based on movements of somewhat different constellations of stars/planets. Moreover the scales of times in such calculations are significantly large as compared to the time-scale (and the ‘concept’ of ‘year’) we use.

Beginning of the present era (Kaliyuga): The Mahabharata war marked the end of Dwapara and beginning of Kali Yuga, as clearly indicated in the following couplets of the epic:
Yada Drakïayasi Sangrame Svetasvam Krasha
Sarathim|
Endramastram Vikurvañabhuvam Chapyagni
Marute ||6||
Gandivasya Cha Nirghosam Visphrjitibhivasaneh
Na Tada Bhavita Treta Na Kratam Dwapara Na Cha ||7||
Yada Draksayasi Sangrame Kuntiputra Yudhisthiram |
Japa Homa Samayutam Swam Raksantam Maha
Chamuma ||8||
Âdityamiva Durgharsam Tapantam Satruvidhinim |
Na Tada Bhavita Treta Na Kratam Dwapara Na Cha ||9||

Meaning: When Krishna will be seen in anger (like an intrepid warrior) in the battlefield as a charioteer of the chariot pulled by white horses, and Arjuna (riding on that chariot) will be found twanging the bow-string of his gigantic arch “Gañdova”, then it will neither be (a time in) Treta, Dwapara or Krat (Sat) Yuga. When Yudhishthira, who does japa and homa, and whose face is radiant like the sun, will be seen protecting his army and destroying the enemy’s forces, then it will neither be (a time in) Treta, Dwapara or Krat (Sat) Yuga.

Evidential Calculations: According to the available versions of Surya Siddhanta [1] , Kali- Yuga began around 3102 BC. This estimate
was supported by globally reputed Indian mathematician and astronomer like Aryabhatta. Based on the information placed at the temple in Bhalka (in Gujarat), this is also considered the year in which Lord Krishna’s incarnation in human form departed from the earth. Ancient astronomer Vriddha Garg found this estimate correct approximately with a deviation of about 500 years, as his calculations were based on incorporation of 28 Nakstras 1 . Although, since the time of Varahmihir and till now only 27 Nakstras are considered in astronomic and astrological calculations in Hindu tradition, the deviation would be justified in view of the fact that in some calculations, the first Nakstra (of SaptarÌi calendar), is regarded as Krattika whereas in some others it is Asvini (Asvina).

Thorough discussion presented in [2] leads to more consistent calculations, which are also supported by astronomical, historical and
archaeological evidences, as outlined below. The author estimates 3676 BC as the year of onset of Kali-Yuga (Kaliyuga) based on following historic and astronomical evidences:
(i) The work of Greek scholars Pliny and Arrian identifies Lord Ram — who according to Hindu scriptures and oriental scholars lived towards the end of Treta-Yuga — as the Greek king Dionysus (or Roman Bacchus) — whose reign had ended at around 6776 BC. Considering that Dwapara Yuga had started soon after Lord Ram’s period, 6676 BC is an estimated date for the onset of the Dwapara Yuga.
(ii) Referring to the Brihata-Samhita (Brs. 13-3) of ancient Indian astronomer Varahmihira, the Saptarsi 2 Calendar [3] dates back to the time when SaptarÌi were aligned in the “Magha” Nakstra and considering that this is the tenth naksatra in a count beginning with Aïvina 3 , modern scholar Dr. Subhash Kak [4] shows that the Saptarsi Calendar, still in use in India, began from 6676 BC. Researcher Bhivu Dev Mishra [2] further argues that —
“The Saptarsi Calendar followed during the Mauryan period was used for tracking the genealogical records of the Mahabharata war
kings. Since the Mahabharata describes events that transpired in the Dw3para-Yuga, there cannot be any doubt that the SaptarÌi Cycle beginning 6676 BC marks the beginning of the descending Dwapara Yuga”. Thus, using 6676 BC as the anchor point and the Saptarsi Calendar as the basis for calculations of the spans of the yugas [5] in descending phase of one Chaturyuga-cycle (in which duration of each yuga is about 2,700 years, and the transitional periods is about 300 years between two successive yugas), Mishra shows that Kaliyuga began in 3676 BC.

He also presents Archaeological evidences of end of Dwapara and the catastrophic geological events in the time-span that marks the transition period between two yugas. The list of such events [cited in [2] with authentic references and several photographs of archaeological explorations] during/around the transition from Dwapara Yuga to Kali-Yuga (~ 3976 to 3676 BC). The list includes: most intense aridification events during the Holocene period that devastated the Neolithic Sub-pluvial; Flandrian transgression that led to
the end of the Ubaid period in Mesopotamia; the discovery of two well-developed cities submerged in the Gulf of Cambay at a depth of 120 feet by National Institute of Ocean Technology. Carbon dating of the artefacts and other archaeological evidences show the cities as belonging to the period ~ 7500 BC – 6500 BC, and also indicate their combined existence as the island city of Lord Krisnha’s Dwarka in the Dwapara Yuga.

The Mahabharata mentions that Dwapara Yuga was over soon after Krishna left this world; and then the seas swelled up during a storm, and submerged the island-city of Dwarka, which was located off the coast of western India. This further lends support to the inference [2] that the present Kali-Yuga began in 3676 BC.

End of Kaliyuga: In an earlier article [5] we had presented details of the estimated total span of Kaliyuga which sans the twilight transition periods is about 5700 years. Hence, considering the above-stated date of the time of onset of Kaliyuga, we can easily see that we are currently going through the last decade of the Kaliyuga, which would end by 2025 CE. [According to astronomical calculations used in Sapatarsi calendar.]

Scholarly studies of ancient texts [6] and Hindu calendar [Vikram Samvat] show that since about 13900 years BCE till at present, we are in the Varah Kalp (i.e., when about 5/12 th of the on- going day of Lord Brahma 4 has passed), which is about the last phase of the current “Yuga”. In simple terms, as explained by the experts of ancient Indian science of astronomy and astrology, the ‘last phase’ of Kaliyuga has begun approximately since around 1969 CE.

Rock-inscriptions found in Aihole 5 , and the research conducted at the Institute of Archaeology History, Mathura also indicate that countdown of Kaliyuga’s exit has begun around 1970 CE.

Scriptural descriptions of different traditions also indicate [6] approximately similar dates regarding end of the Dark Age (Kaliyuga). According to Japanese Buddhists, after the present Dark Age, the period of dawn of ‘Abatiri’ (Bright Era) has begun since ~1936 CE. According to the Bahavi (Baha’i) cult in Iran, the period of dawn of Golden Age has started recently. Similar are the predictions of Lama Yogis of Tibet regarding Golden Era (called Chambala in their local language). Some Jewish scriptures on future of the world also make similar mention sregarding the onset of “Guergazar” (Bright Age).

Islamic religious book Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī” (The prophetic traditions, or hadith, collected by the Persian Muslim scholar Muhammad al-
Bukhari) kept in the holy city of Madina (Medina) mentions that Qay3mata (end of sinners/sinful era) will occur around the second one-third of the 14 th Century of Hijri calendar. Considering that the holy Razab month of Hizari year 1963 coincides with the holy Shravan month of Hindu Vikarm Samvat 2000, this prediction also coincides with the year ~1943 CE of the modern calendar. In the “Dasam Granth Sahib” revered Sikh Guru Govind Singh ji has also mentioned about the period of anti-climax of the Dark Age, which corresponds approximately to the same year (~1943 CE).

It is interesting to see that what several ancient Indian scriptures describe as the time of ‘end’ (anti-climax and eventual setting off period) of Kaliyuga in terms of specific arrangements of planets also corresponds to the above-stated calculations and archaeological findings. For instance (c.f. Bhagvat 2|31-32):

Yada Devarsayah Saptamadhasu Vicharanti Hi|
Tada Pravattastu Kalirdwadasabda Satatmakaa ||
Yada Maghabhyo Vasyanti Purvasadha
Mharsayah Tada Nandat Prabhrtyesa
Kalirvraddhi GamaÌtati ||

Meaning: When (after the historic Mahabharata War) the SaptarÌi 2 aligned in the Magha Naksatra 1 , Kali-Yug began to enter (i.e., the pre-transition phase of Kali-Yug commenced). After this, the SaptarÌi would lie in the Purvasadha Naksatra and (with this) the predominance of Kaliyug will be over.
Divabdanam Sahastrante Chaturthetu Punah Kratam |
Bhavisyati Yada Nranam Mana Âtma Prakaskam ||
—Bhagvat (12|2|34)

Meaning: After four thousands (solar) years of predominance of Kaliyuga, there will be emergence of the Golden Age that will illuminate
the minds and inner self of human beings.

According to studies of planetary constellations, the Saptarsi planets were in the Purvasadha Naksatra, on the “Krishna Amavashya” (last day of a lunar month), of Vikram Samvat 2000 (i.e.~1943CE). That means, by 2043CE, the world will see the manifestation of a Golden Age.
Yada Chandrascha Suryascha Tatha Tisya Brahaspati |
Eka Rasau SameÌyanti Tada Bhavati Tat Kratamma ||
- Mahabharata (Van Parva|190|90)

Meaning: When the Moon, Sun and Jupiter simultaneously enter in (the ecliptic sector) Puïya Naksatra and are in the same Zodiac position of Karka, it will mark the juncture of completion of Kali-Yug and beginning of a Golden Age.

This corresponds to the predictions of the Bhagvat (cited above), as the specific alignment of the Sun, Moon and Jupiter had occurred on 1 st August 1943 AD.
Notably, Zoroastrian holy book ‘The Zend Avesta’ also makes mention of the same planetary alignment as indicator of the end of the Age of Vices. The corresponding text translates as — when Moon, Sun and Jupiter simultaneously align in the Zodiac sign “Cancer” (Karka) then there will be descent of the divine soul (light); then people will leave all vices and evils and the world will be filled with fairness and happiness.

The ancient Indian text “Brahm-vaivarta Puraña” (Text 50, 59) describes a dialogue between Lord Krishna and the Goddess Ganga. Here, Krishna says that after 5,000 years of Kali-Yuga there will be a dawn of a new Golden Age which will last for ~10,000 years. This can be immediately understood in the context of the span of Kali-Yuga described in this article. We are now witnessing the last decade of Kali-Yuga, nearly 5,700 years (2700 years of its descending phase + 2700 years of its ascending phase + ~ 300 years of transition
of its end and beginning a new era) since its beginning in 3676 BC. And the complete end of the Kali-Yuga will be followed by the ascending phase of three successively brighter eras of bliss, benevolence, peace and prosperity spanning over 9000 years.


Reference:

[1] Burgess E. (1860): Translation of the Surya Siddhanta – A Text Book of Hindu Astronomy, New Haven: For the American Oriental Soc. [Original article publ. In J. Amer. Oriental Soc. Vol VI. The book also contains detailed commentary by the author.] [2] Bibhu Dev Misra (2003). Unraveling the Yuga Cycle Timeline. Part-I of a Web Article.
(https://grahamhancock.com/ dmisrab6/) also see
[3]  itihasabharati.blogspot.com/2016/01/ the-saptarshi-calendar.html
[4] Subhash Kak (2000): On the Chronological Framework for Indian Culture. Bulletin of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research. pp. 1-24.
[5] Pandya P. And Shambhudass (editors) (2017): Change of Era — When? Akhand Jyoti – The Light Divine, Vol. 15 Issue 1; Jan-Feb 2017.
[6] Sharma Shriram Acharya (1995). Yug-Parivartana Kaise aur Kaba?” Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya Samagra Vangmaya Vol.
27. Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, Mathura.

Notes:
1. Naksatra: A Naksatra (Nakshatra) is the term for lunar asterism (or lunar mansion) in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of the 27 sectors along the ecliptic. Their names are related to the most prominent asterisms in the respective sectors.
2. Saptarsi: The great bear constellation of seven planets.
3. Asvina: By the time of the Greek system of calendar (and hence in the modern ‘scale’ of year) came into existence, the naksatras
were listed starting with Aïvina (Surya Siddhanta 8.9).
4. God Brahma’s one day: The span of the birth, existence, evolution, and complete merger (in Brahm**) of the Srasti* is referred as one day of God Brahma. [*Srasti: The entire Creation — manifestation of Nature, the cosmos, the planetary system the world, and
the living beings, etc. **Brahm: The Omnipresent, Eternal Consciousness- Force. It is the self-existent origin, medium and absolute end of every existence].
5. Aihole Inscriptions: Aihole village, about 510 Kilo Meters from Bangalore in Karnataka is famous as the Cradle of Indian architecture. The Rock-inscriptions found here are written in Sanskrit and Kannada; these belong to the time of King Pulakeshin-II of
Chalukya dynasty, who reigned during 610 to 642 CE.